Albert mcdowell



(No Model.)

A. MODOWELL. RBFRIGERATOR. No. 487,199. Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

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ALBERT MODOWELL, OF SELMA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN A. STROUD,

OF SAME PLACE. l

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 487,199, dated November 29, 18921.

Application filed May 4, 1892. Serial No. 431,824. `(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT MODOWELL, a citizen of the ,United States, residing at Selma, Fresno county, State of California; have invented an Improvement in Coolers, and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of coolers designed to contain water or perishable artito cles.

My invention consists in the novel construction of the outer casing and inner chamber of the cooler with encircling air-passages and saturated absorbent coverings, and theL novel construction and arrangement of the 'feeding device by which wat-er is automati- 'cally supplied to the absorbent coverings, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe,` and specically point out in the claims. l

The object of my invention is to provide a` .simple and effective device for keeping water and other articles cool.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 'for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal secl tion on line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line a: @c of Fig. l.

A is the outer casing, open at the bottom and provided with legs a and a cover A Within this casing is the inner chamber, (represented by B.) This may consist of a single Vessel or can when designed to hold Water; but for other purposes it is formed by means of the separated frames B and metal plates, to be presently described.

The frames B consist each of four piecesnamely, a horizontal bottom bar, two vertical side bars, and a horizontal-top bar, said bars being secured to the inner surface of the outer casing A. Similar bars are placed on the ends of the casing also. Upon the bottom bars of the frames are laid the base-strips C, forming the iioor of the inner chamber, said strips being separated from each other, form- 45 ing a kind of grating. Secured to the inner surfaces of the vertical bars of the encircling frames are the sheet-s or plates of metal D,

preferably galvanized iron, and these are separated from the Walls of the casing A, leav- 5o ing air-spaces a between them aud said walls,

which said air-spaces are separated by the Vertical bars of the encircling frames. The metal plates D are cut out at their upper ends, leaving openings d, whereby the heated air from the interior iinds escape. Secured to the under surface of the top bars of' the encircling frames are similar plates D', of galvanized iron, the ends of which project over the top of of the vertical plates of galvanized iron.

E are strips of burlap or other suitable ab- 6o sorbent material in one or more layers or pieces i F.v Within this gutter are laid the strips of absorbent material G, preferably formed of lamp-wick. One end of each piece G dips into the gutter and the other lies on top of the burlap-covering E. Supported above and separated from this gutter is the Water-feeder. This is a comparatively-shallow hollow vesy sel H, closed on alll sides and air-tight. vIt is 8o fitted with a central supply-hopper h. A Water-inlet 7L', controlled by a removable plug or cork, opens into the Waterfeeder from the central hopper, and an air-exit h2, controlled by a plug or cork, opens therefrom. Communicating from the outside with t-he feed-vessel is a hose-section I. Vtfhen the feed-vessel. is in place, the end of the hose rests in the gutter F. This end of the hose is raised by means of the rock-shaft connection J Witha turning 9o drum K around the central hopper h.

The operation is as follows: The air-vent h2 of the feed-vessel I-I being opened and the water-inlet h from the hopper h info the feedvessel being also opened, water is poured into said-hopper and flows through the air-inlet therein into and iills the feed-vessel H. During this time of filling the end of the hosesection I is lifted higher than the vessel, so that no Water can run out through it. When Ioo the vessel is filled with water, the air-vent is closed by its plug and the Water-inlet opening is also closed, thus shutting off the entrance and escape of all air. The end of hose I is then dropped, so that its end rests in the gutter F beneath. The Water will im mediately flow through the hose and rise in the gutter until it covers the end of the hose, thereby cutting off the iiow of Water. The water in the gutter saturates the absorbent pieces G therein, and these, hanging over the edges of the glitter, carry the Water from the gutter onto the surrounding burlap strips E, saturating them and keeping them constantly Wet. This goes on until the level of the water in the gutter has been reduced below the end of' the hose I, whereupon more Water comes from the feed-vessel into the gutter. A constant supply is thus maintained. In some` cases, as where the cooler is intended to remain in the open air, I make apertures a2 in the upper portion of casing A to admit air, which thus circulates through the bottom., the. side and en d air-spaces of the casing passing over the saturated cloths or pieces of burlap,th.us keeping the temperature reduced.

In cases Where the cooler is intended to stand inside out of the current I intend to' force, air into. its air-spaces,v and in suche-ases I have no needot' the air-apertures a2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cooler,kth.e combination of anv outer casing, an inner chamber separated therefrom to form encircling air-spaces, absorbent coverings wrapped about the inner chamber and exposed to the air-spaces, a. trough suspended above and exterior of the chamber, a feedwater vessel having an adjustable dischargepipeleadingtothetrough,andtheindependent capillary conductors or pieces G, arranged around the trough, each having oneendpdipping into the troughv and the other end carried downward into contact with the. absorbent covering on the inner chamber',l substantially as herein described.

2. In a cooler, the combination of an outer casing, an-inner chamber separatedtfrom said Outercasin g by encircling air-spaces, absorb. en tcoserings wrapped about the inner charnberand exposed toy the air-spaces, a trough for Water inV the upper portion oli the4 cooler above and exterior to the inner chamber, independent absorbentl pieces having. one, end restingwithin the Water of the trough and the other end on the exterior of the absorbent coverings vof the inner chamber, an airtight water-feed vessel above the trough, and an adjustable pipe leading from said vessel and entering the water-trough, whereby the flow of water to the trough is automatically cut ott and eected as its level in the trough rises above and falls below the exit of the suppl y-pipe, substantially as herein described.

3. In a cooler, the combination of an outer casing, an inner chamber separated from said outer casing by encircling air-spaces, absorbent coverings wrapped about the inner chamber and exposed to the airspaces,'the trough for water about the top of the inner chamber,

. the absorbent pieces G, resting in the trough and on the absorbent coverings, ci?v the inner chamber, the air-tight water-feedvessel; above the trough, the hose leading therefrom and having its outer end resting in the trough, and means for lifting and lowering the. outer end of said hosesubstantially as herein described.

4. In a cooler, the combination of theouter casing, the inner chamber separated therefrom and having its exterior covered with absorbent materiah a Water-supply trough above and independent of the inner chamber, and capillary conductors. therefrom consisting ot the independent pieces Gr, having one end dipping into the trough andl the. other end carried downward intocontact with the absorbent covering, an air-tight water-feed vessel, and a hosetherefrom to the trou-gh, substantially as herein described.

5. A cooler consisting of an inner andouter chamber with intervening air-spaces, a covering of absorbent material upon. the. exterior of the inner chamber,an air-tight water-feed vessel in, the upper portion of the outer cham.- ber and above the inner chamber, a trough carried by the water-vessel.y and a hose from the water-.vessel for delivering water tothe trough, and capillary conductors having one endl dipping into the trough and their-opposite endsy carried intoy contact with the exterior covering. of the inner chamber, substantially, as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto-.set my hand. 4

ALBERT MODOWELL.

Witnesses:

D. S. SNoDGRAss, I. M. SIDES.

IOO 

